John CalvinYesterday in Pathways we took a brief look at the doctrine of predestination as taught by Paul in Ephesians 1:3-6. I addressed a few of the many important questions/ objections that I have heard or even had myself regarding this teaching.

I thought I would post a few more of those objections that i didnt get a chance to address due to time restraints.  

First, we briefly looked at the relationship between predestination and evangelism but here I wanted to look at one passage that I think is extremely helpful on the relationship betweent the free offer of the gospel and the doctrine of predestination.

Take a look at Matthew 11:20-29. Jesus had just got done renouncing cites because they had refused to repent of their sins and believe in him for salvation (v. 20). Then he suprisingly traces their failure to believe to God's "gracious will" (v. 26). Jesus says that reason that these cities did not believe was that God  "hides" knowledge of him from some and "reveals" it to others" (v. 25).

It is worth noting that these cities are still held accountable for their actions (v. 22).  At base level however, in the secret will of God, "noone knows the the Father (in a saving way)... except anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him" (v.27). That is, God is sovereign and discriminatory regarding those whom he elects to life and those whom he does not.

But then look what follows. Everyone knows the verses, but we often overlook the fact that the appear in the above mentioned context. Directly after all of this, after Jesus had attributed their unbelief to the will of God, that God did not choose to reveal Himself to them, Jesus utters these words: "Come to me, all who labor an are heavy laden...and you will find rest for your souls (vv. 28-30).

Jesus juxtaposes God's sovereign election of some next to the free offer of the gospel. In the same breath Jesus himself utters a free offer of the gospel and mentions God's election! According to Jesus, these 2 things are not contradictory but rather complimentary. The free offer works in tandom with God's election. The gospel is the means by which God calls His elect to himself (1Cor. 1:24, Rom. 1:16-17).

Secondly, look quickly with me at Revelation 19. Another common objection to predestination is that it limits the scope and widenss of the love of God. If we embrace election, it is argued, then we are left with a small, elite, group of people in heaven. This is not consitent with the teaching that "God is love", it is said.

We have already seen yesterday that the doctrine of  unconditional election is clearly taught in Scripture (Eph. 1, Rom. 9). But What does the bible tell us about the number of the elect? Is it a "small elite group". Well, in Revelation 19, John's vision of the marriage supper of the lamb, we read that there are "a great multitude" praising God and it sounded like "the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder" (v. 6).

That does not sound like an "small, elite group" to me! It does not necessarily follow that becuase God elects, God elects a small group. We see that there will be a great multitude dining with Christ at the great marriage supper of the lamb!

I want to close this post with some words of John Calvin. It is common to think that this doctrine does more harm than good, and even if it was taught in scripture, it is thought, it is not very practical. That is not what John Calvin thought. Listen to what Calvin has to say about the practicality of this doctrine:

"We shall never be clearly convinced as we ought to be, that our salvation flows from the fountain of God's free mercy, till we are acquainted with his eternal election...Ignorance of this principle evidently detracts from the Divine glory, and diminishes real humility...They who shut the gates to prevent any one from presuming to approach and taste this doctrine, do no less injury to man than to God; for nothing else will be sufficient to produce in us suitable humility or to impress us with a due sense of our great obligations to God. Nor is there any other basis for solid confidence, even according to the authority of Christ, who, to deliver us from all fear, and render us invincible amidst so many dangers, snares, and deadly conflicts, promises to preserve in safety all whom the Father has commited to his care".( Institues, Book 3 section 21) 

If there are any specific questions/objections that you would like to read a post about, please feel free to comment on this post and note the specfic question that you have. We will do our best to provide a biblically based response.